I had an assignment for my English class to write a persuasive paper. This is my topic.

What do you mean our school is closing?Numerous small schools throughout the country have been closing, and most students are not in favor of it. There are plenty of reasons to keep out small schools open.One reason we should keep small schools open is that they are a better place for students. According to gr...

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Olney Daily Mail - Olney, IL

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Posted Feb. 19, 2013 at 1:00 PM
Updated Feb 19, 2013 at 1:02 PM

Posted Feb. 19, 2013 at 1:00 PM
Updated Feb 19, 2013 at 1:02 PM

What do you mean our school is closing?

Numerous small schools throughout the country have been closing, and most students are not in favor of it. There are plenty of reasons to keep out small schools open.

One reason we should keep small schools open is that they are a better place for students. According to greatschools.org researchers have found that there are approximately 60% less dropouts in small schools than in larger schools. Also, since the teachers know a student’s capabilities better in small schools, they can push a student to do his or her best. Furthermore, in small schools, students have a better sense of belonging, as earlycolleges.org says, and they trust the adult staff more to open up to them. Not to mention that in small schools there are significantly less violent crimes. This definitely shows small schools are better for students in this area.

Another reason small schools should be kept open is because of the major impact it will have on the towns in the area. One of the impacts is a loss of identity. Many small towns define themselves by their school, according to ehow.com. By losing their schools, they lose their whole identity. In addition to that, the economic impact would be disastrous. Many small towns need the income that schools bring in to the area by eating at restaurants between activities and buying groceries after dropping their children off at school. Since there is no reason to live in that area without a school, people may move and not pay property taxes. These are only a few reasons why our small schools should not be closed.

Above all, the effects on students from closing their schools are disastrous. Education Northwest shows that closing small schools and sending their students to larger schools has a negative effect on students. The students may have longer bus routes, even though some students already ride the bus for over an hour. Also; the students will not be involved in as much extracurricular activities. In their small schools they can play in multiple sports, be in clubs. By going to larger schools, they have less opportunity to be involved in those types of things. Education Northwest also clarifies the fact that economically-disadvantaged families have better benefits in small schools than larger schools. When the students that are economically disadvantaged come into school, they are further behind because they have less access to the resources that put them ahead. By going to smaller schools, the students get the attention they need to get caught up with the other students. Another disadvantage to closing small schools is that it might separate close friends who live at opposite ends of town. The larger schools may also have many anonymous students, to the extent that the students will not make new, close friends. The reasons above are just a few reasons why small schools should not be closed.

Page 2 of 2 - In conclusion, small schools should not be closed. Small schools are definitely not the places of lesser education that they are made out to be. They are great places for students to learn and form bonds with their peers. There are plenty of other reasons why small schools should not be closed and these are only a couple.